Can I get workers’ compensation for a panic attack?
Workers Compensation - July 1, 2026
You may be eligible to recover workers’ compensation benefits for a panic attack in Illinois in some very specific circumstances. On their own, anxiety or panic disorders usually aren’t covered under Illinois workers’ compensation laws.
However, if these conditions were caused by a work accident, you may have grounds.
If you think your panic attack is linked to your job or a work-related accident, it’s worth discussing your options with a Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer at Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates.
Does Illinois workers’ comp cover mental health conditions?
Illinois workers’ compensation may cover mental health conditions, including those involving panic attacks, in some situations. Illinois recognizes three types of relationships between mental and physical harm:
- Psychosomatic: These are claims where an emotionally traumatic event causes physical symptoms. Examples of this may be inflammatory disorders that result from the experience of emotional trauma.
- Somatopsychic: When a physical accident or injury causes psychological symptoms, such as developing anxiety or PTSD because of how your physical injuries affect your mental health.
- Psychological: When an emotionally traumatic event causes psychological symptoms. For example, if someone were to suffer PTSD after an incident of workplace violence or witnessing a fatal accident.
A pure panic attack with no accompanying physical injury falls into that third, psychological category, which Illinois treats as the hardest to prove.
When does a panic attack qualify for workers’ compensation?
A panic attack is most likely to qualify when it follows a sudden, severe, work-related shock. Illinois courts require a sudden, severe emotional shock traceable to a definite time, place, and cause, such as an armed robbery or witnessing serious workplace violence. Panic attacks that build gradually from ordinary, day-to-day job stress generally don’t meet that standard on their own.
How do you prove a work-related panic attack claim?
According to Illinois workers’ compensation laws, some workers may qualify for workers’ comp benefits for panic attacks caused by extraordinary workplace events. Because these types of claims can be difficult to prove, a workers’ comp attorney can help gather evidence and present a strong case.
Whether you have an accompanying physical injury or not, our workers’ compensation attorney often works with clients to gather evidence necessary to establish that critical link. This is often done through documentation from a mental health provider who can connect your panic attacks to the specific work event that triggered them. We may also use records of any medical treatment you received related to a workplace injury or illness.
What benefits can you receive for a workplace panic attack?
With adequate evidence, workers’ compensation may cover psychotherapy and psychiatric care, along with temporary total disability benefits to replace wages while you’re unable to work. In cases where you are permanently unable to work, permanent disability benefits may be covered by workers’ compensation.
Our workers’ comp attorneys understand that it can be difficult to make a convincing argument, even if you are eligible for these benefits under workers’ comp laws, but we are ready to help you obtain the benefits you are owed.
Talk to a Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer about your claim
The workers’ compensation system does not automatically qualify a panic attack as an eligible injury. However, if it is related to a work injury, the team at Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates is ready to help you build a case to qualify for workers’ comp and provide compelling evidence when filing a workers’ compensation claim.
When you’re dealing with anxiety and panic disorders, we know that even small tasks can feel overwhelming. Contact us online or call (800) 985-1819 to discuss your situation.
